Help, I'm Addicted To Ice Cream

[kentx05 3]

Hi lapbandsters,

I need your help. I am so disappointed in myself. I had my surgery in Aug 10 and had gone from 282 to 198 lbs. Then I tasted one ice crea, Reese's Sonic Blasts, and now I'm hooked. It's been more than a year and half now and I've regained much of my weight. I'm at 235 now and climbing. I made a fool out of myself in front of everybody who now think the Lap Band doesn't work. I know it does work, but my addiction to ice cream, which I never had pre band, is causing me to go down fast. Has anybody else struggled with this? I need to cleanse my body of all this sugar and get back to my low carb eating ways. Any encouragement or advice would be greatly appreciated. God bless.

[B-52 7,113]

All that just from Ice Cream?

I don't count calories, or measure portions. I eat just about anything I want, or the band will allow.

The reason I still lost weight is because, looking at the big picture, I eat a fraction of what I used to on any given day.

If I were to start gaining weight, it would simply be that I am eating more that I should.

I'm not addicted to Ice Cream, but I have it 2-3 times a week. I also snack on potato chips, etc.

But again, if you add it all up for a given day, it is still nothing compared to the pig I used to be.

In other words, because of the band, I eat like a skinny person does. Skinny people eat ice cream too.

[kll724 3,055]

I like ice cream, too! But, I don't keep it in the house. I need to make a run to get it when I want it. It helps fight the "addiction".

I like chips , etc, too, they are all slider foods, but as B-52 says, you have to eat like a skinny person. When I had chips, (which I don't keep in the house,anymore), I made sure to have a small rami bowl to put them in. Good luck, you can get back to your swelt weight if you want to!

[kentx05 3]

Well the problem is that I'm not getting just a few scoops of ice cream. I'm eating the whole shabang of Breyer's Snicker ice cream. Or I'll go to Sonic and get myself two large Sonic Blasts. Since it is a slider food, all those calories just slide in. Not good. It definately feels like an addiction.

[NWgirl 574]

I think the only thing that can be said is you should stop buying them. It is obviously a food you can't just have a little of and be done.

[JennyBee 340]

I agree Ken, just don't buy them until u feel u have regained control. Try not to drive by Sonic...

[Holly Dolly 575]

Yep, I would definitley not buy it anymore. There are alot of things I love and I know if I buy them I am doomed until the whole package is GONE! Maybe try a frozen Protein Shake instead. I have found one that I have been having for a morning snack. It's made by EAS and it's called AdvantEDGE carb control. They are only 110 calories and 17 grams of Protein. I throw them in the freezer and then let them thaw out in the morning. I snip the top of the pouch off and eat it right from the container. They are really good. I took one when we went hiking a couple of weeks ago and my niece and my hubby thought it was tasty too!

I have found these 4 packs of shakes at Target ($5), Walgreens ($9), Fresh & Easy($5) and the grocery stores($8).

[ready for my journey to be 14]

I LOVE KEIFER AND FROZEN FRUIT...PUT IT IN THE NINJA OR BLENDER BETTER THEN ANY ICE CREAM OR PLAIN GREEK YOGURT WITH SOME FROZEN fruit AND SPLENDA TASTY STUFF GOOD LUCK !!!

[Miss_A 11]

Yes, I would say you've developed an addiction. Maybe due to some other issue that has happened in your life? If you're like me, you're an emotional eater. You've probably gotten into a cycle of, I eat it because it makes me feel better - temporarily - but then I feel like crap afterwards, which brings on self-hatred and you eat more to punish yourself. That's me, anyway.

I'm 14 months post-op and I'm 10lbs heavier than the day of surgery. I only lost about 25lbs. I've learned that I cannot eat like my friend - who was banded in Oct. 2010 and has lost 70lbs and just got a Tummy Tuck. She eats whatever she wants, just not much of it, because the band won't allow it. However, in my case, I can eat a lot of food. (I have 7cc's in my 10cc band.) And I learned real quick to eat the slider foods and then I would binge. Especially w/in the last 8 months. I had something very tragic happen in my life. And as I'm always used to doing, I turned to food. With that said, I think I've finally had enough of feeling like a failure and hating myself. I'm ready to give this healthy lifestyle a try. And, for me, that means measuring out portions, counting calories and no junk. Which is going to be a task with a 14 year old son.

After bingeing on an entire bag of ruffle potato chips and an entire container of dip 3 days ago, that was my wake up call. I told myself that that was enough. I didn't have this procedure just to let it go to waste. So I've been on liquids the past 3 days. I'm starting over from the beginning. It's what I've got to do. And if that's what you need to do, then do it. There is no shame in that. I know I rambled on a bunch, but just know that you can overcome your addiction.

Hang in there, hon.

[kentx05 3]

Yes, I would say you've developed an addiction. Maybe due to some other issue that has happened in your life? If you're like me, you're an emotional eater. You've probably gotten into a cycle of, I eat it because it makes me feel better - temporarily - but then I feel like crap afterwards, which brings on self-hatred and you eat more to punish yourself. That's me, anyway.

I'm 14 months post-op and I'm 10lbs heavier than the day of surgery. I only lost about 25lbs. I've learned that I cannot eat like my friend - who was banded in Oct. 2010 and has lost 70lbs and just got a Tummy Tuck. She eats whatever she wants, just not much of it, because the band won't allow it. However, in my case, I can eat a lot of food. (I have 7cc's in my 10cc band.) And I learned real quick to eat the slider foods and then I would binge. Especially w/in the last 8 months. I had something very tragic happen in my life. And as I'm always used to doing, I turned to food. With that said, I think I've finally had enough of feeling like a failure and hating myself. I'm ready to give this healthy lifestyle a try. And, for me, that means measuring out portions, counting calories and no junk. Which is going to be a task with a 14 year old son.

After bingeing on an entire bag of ruffle potato chips and an entire container of dip 3 days ago, that was my wake up call. I told myself that that was enough. I didn't have this procedure just to let it go to waste. So I've been on liquids the past 3 days. I'm starting over from the beginning. It's what I've got to do. And if that's what you need to do, then do it. There is no shame in that. I know I rambled on a bunch, but just know that you can overcome your addiction.

Hang in there, hon.

Thanks. I'm there with you. We can beat this thing. My problem is when I get bored I think of food and then I eat. That's when it gets bad. Still, I know I can do it. It's time to go back to the way I was eating before.

[adorkbl 156]

I am addicted to ice cream too. I lost 100 pounds initially... had some complications (gallbladder surgery, port leak, port replacement) and I let it all go to ****. I gained 50 back and have been hovering at the same weight now for a long time.

Unlike you, I DID have an addiction to ice cream pre-band, but thought if that was the ONE thing I had to do myself, I could do it. Well... it is REALLY hard. I am back to eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's a night. Sometimes more. I easily eat 1000-1200 calories a day in ice cream.

I just recommitted myself 2 days ago. I have been ice cream free for 2 days. Sounds silly... but seriously, that is huge for me!! I am relearning how to work with my band instead of around it. No more drinking when eating. No more slider foods. And no more ice cream!!

For me, I have to completely ban ice cream from my life. When I lost the 100 pounds my first year... I was not eating ANY. I understand that skinny people eat ice cream, and chips, blah blah. Moderation blah blah. Well I am not, nor have I ever been a skinny person. I can't just have 1 scoop. I always want more. My brain never stops wanting more. I crave it. I obsess about it. The only way I could control it is to treat it like an alcoholic would alcohol. I cannot have any. Never. Not one scoop. Not one bite. Not one lick. Once I have it, it snowballs.

I have been in pretty bad sugar withdrawals the last two days... but I am hanging in there. I did it before, I can do it again. Yesterday I was obsessing about a turtle sundae from Culvers. I wanted it. I was telling myself, just this one last time. Just once more. Start tomorrow. Well I have been telling myself that for over a year. And where has that gotten me? I went home and had a Protein shake instead. I was pissed. Unsatisfied. Angry. But after those initial feelings passed I was so proud of myself for hanging in there. Today was a little easier. Tomorrow will be a little easier.

HANG IN THERE. You just have to keep reminding yourself of your goals. Why you had this surgery. Don't throw it all away for 10 minutes of pleasure. It is a wicked, awful, nasty cycle. You can do it. Drive a different route. Don't pass Sonic. Don't keep ice cream in your freezer. Treat it like an addict. You cannot have it. Period. Give it a shot. Best of luck to you. I am there with you. You are not alone.

[HealthyCathy 5]

I love ice cream and patato chips and that is why I cannot have any in my house, I do not want to start eating it..